Overdue Library Book? You Get A Criminal Warrant!

Patricia Edwards, the director of the county’s libraries, said this is not an attempt to punish or embarrass patrons of the library. “We just want our materials,” she said. “As a public institution, we are supposed to be responsible.”

All of this falls, if you were curious, under O.C.G.A. § 20-5-53, titled “Procedures following failure of library patron to return borrowed property.” In part, this code section states that if you fail to return the item within 15 days of proper notice,

[…]such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days and shall be required to return such article or equipment or provide reimbursement for the replacement cost of such article or equipment.